Apparatus for making metallic ribbon



H. BLOUNT ETAL.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLJEC RIBBON ApriI 28, 1942.

Original Filed May 8, 1937 I I l I I I l I 7.75% ClfOSS SEC'T/O/VAL AREA Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENrjoFFIcE f W 2,281,230 H y APPARATUS METALLIC 'New York Original application May 8, 1937, Serial No. 141,480. Divided and this application February 14, 1940, Serial N0. 318,796

6- Claims. (01. 205-26) This invention relates to apparatus for making metallic ribbon, and more particularly to apparatus for drawing such a ribbon from a round wire, and this is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 141,480, filed May 8, 1937.

Heretofore it has been the practice in some instances to draw a round wire to a predetermined size and then fiatten it out by passing it between a pair of rolls. On account of the high pressure per square inch on the rolls where they are in contact with the wire, the rolls wear rapidly and also the grain of the metal will extend transversely of the ribbon due to the lateral expansion, which is an undesirable feature.

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective and efiicient apparatus for drawing a metallic ribbon of high quality.

In accordance with one'einbodiment of the invention, a wire is selected of substantially greater cross-sectional area than a wire which is to be rolled fiat, and the wire is then drawn successively on two diametrically opposite sides until a ribbon of the desired thickness is obtained. A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a die and die holder;

Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the die members;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a die member;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a combined die member spacer and ribbon guide;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the die and die holder of Fig. 1, including a fragmentary View of a capstan;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a graphic illustration of the forma tion of a metallic ribbon from a circular wire.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a die holder 8 is shown having a bottom portion 9 and two upright portions ll forming substantially a U-shaped or trough-like support. The inner face of the base of the die holder is provided with a pair of grooves l2, leaving a flat portion l3 upon which the die mountings l4 and I5 rest. The die mounting l4 abuts against a dowel pin [6, and its upper surface rests against a dowel pin IT. The die mounting l5 has a dowel pin I8 resting against its upper surface, and the outer end of this mounting abuts against a set screw it. After this set screw has been turned into position, it

leaves the die elements.

is held; in position by drawing up a screw 2| which clamps the set screw l9 between the upright portions I I,

The die mountings l4 and [5 have die elements 22 with parallel surfaces secured thereto by processes well known in the art. The die elements may be made of diamonds or other suitable materials such as tungsten carbide or the like. The die mountings are spaced apart a predetermined distance by means of a combined rib,- bon guide and spacer 23. This spacer maintains the die elements 22 a predetermined distance apart and also assists in maintaining them parallel to each other. When the edges of. the die elements become worn, they may be refinished and the spacer 23 is then ground down to such a length asto re-establish the desired or original spacing. The spacer has a conical aperture 26 which aids in guiding the ribbon as it The aperture 26 in the spacer 23 communicates with a larger aperture 28 formed in the bottom portion 9 of the die holder 8.

Fig. 5 illustrates a ribbon, 24 being drawn through the die by a capstan 25. In actual practice, of course, a ribbon is formed by passing through a number of dies successively in accordance with common practice in' .the wire drawing art.

As a specific illustration of making a metallic ribbon in accordance with the invention a typical example will be given as exemplified graphically in Fig. 7. In this figure the abscissae represent area and the ordinates represent diameter or thickness.

Referring to curve A, a wire of circular crosssection having a diameter of .0158" is selected representing a cross-sectional area of per cent. This Wire is then drawn successively through the dies until its cross-sectional area is 7.75 per cent of its original cross-sectional area. The wire is drawn successively through the dies which engage only two diametrically opposite sides of the wire, and the edges of the ribbon being formed do not engage the die elements and are not drawn. It is surprising that, even though the edges of the ribbon are not drawn, and even though there is a slight increase in the width of the ribbon during the drawing operations, the edges of the ribbon remain smooth and straight. When the ribbon attains a thickness of .0009", it will have a cross-sectional area of 7.75 per cent of its original cross-sectional area, and the width of the ribbon will be only slightly greater than the in which the wire is first-reduced in circular form by drawing and is then-flattened'by forming it between rolls. Thus, beginning with a wire of the same diameter as in the preceding illustration, namely .0158,- the wire isadra'wn in circular form to .0045 indiameten at which time it will also have approximately 7.75 per cent of its original cross-sectional area. At this point the wire is then formed between rolls, reducing the diameter from .0045" to a thickness 'of L0'009, inwhich there is pra'cticallyno change in the cross-sectional area. .'Ihe grain of the metal will thereforeextend almost in its-entirety transversely of the-ribbon. A ribbon made in accordance with the invention will therefore have 'far superior physical properties.

It will be understood that the nature and embodiment of the invention described is merely illustrative and that many changes andmodificationsmay be made-therein without departing from the spiritand'scope of the invention.

Whatis claimed is: .1. A die assembly comprising a holder having a base-and side members, die mounting members fitting between said side members and resting on said base member said die mounting members having cut out portions, a single apertured spacer for said die mounting members positioned in the cut out portions thereof, and means for holding said die=mounting members against said spacer.

2. A die assembly comprising a pair of die members of rectangular cross-section having die elements mounted thereon and having rectangular cut out portions therein, means for supporting said members onfour sides with the die elements facing each other, means for urging said die members toward each other, and-a single rectangular, apertured spacing member positioned in the cut out portions of the die elements for holding said die members in predetermined spaced relation.

3. A die assembly comprising a holder having a base andside members, die members fitting between said side members and resting on said base, said die members having rectangular cut .out portions, anapertured spacer fitting in the 10 cut outportionsof said die members, and positioning means for said die members extending from one :sidelmember to the other and including a threaded-member abutting against the end of one of said-die-m'embers for urging the die members toward each other.

4.A. die; assembly comprising a substantially U--sh'aped die holder, a pair of die members haviinga'. cross-section to fit within said holder, said die members having cut out portions, a spacer positioned in said cut out portions for spacing said die members to form a slot'therebetween,

.abutments -secured to and "reinforcing the side walls of said holder forpositioning said die members, and-a threaded member engaging one of said die members to hold the assembly inposition.

5. A die assembly comprising a substantially -U-shaped die holder, a pair ofdie members havinga cross-section to fit within said holder, said die members having cut out portions therein, a spacer positioned in said out out portions for spacing said'die members to form a slot therebetween, abutments secured to and reinforcing the side walls of said holder for. positioning said die members, a threaded member-engaging one of said die members to holdthe assembly inposition, and means for clamping said threaded member securely in position.

6. A die assembly comprising a substantially U-shapedmember having a base and side walls, a plurality of dowel members secured to said side walls to form :abutmentsior diemembers, apair of die members fitting into said die holder and positioned by said dowel members, a spacer for .forming a slot'betweensaiddie members, and a threaded member engaging one of said diemembers, to hold said assembly in position.

HARRY BLOUNT. HAROLD P. ARKEMA. 

